AN ACCOUNT 



OF 



mnr 



HE SIEGE OF mmmi 



SOUTH CAROLINA, 



In 1780. 



By Gen. WILMOT G. DeSAUSSURE. 



(FROM THE CITY YEAR BOOK— 1884.) 



CHARLESTON, S. C. 

THE NEWS AND COURIER BOOK PRESSES. 
1885. 



AN ACCOUNT 



OF 



THE SliE OF CHIRLE 




i, 



SOUTH CAROLINA, 



In 1780. 



By Gen. WILMOT G. DeSAUSSURE. 



(FROM THE CITY YEAR BOOK— 1884.) 



CHARLESTON, S. C. 

THE NEWS AND COURIER BOOK PRESSES. 

1885. 



Yj^,.V^'Vv , 



^ Oy 



K 



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THE SIEGE OF CHARLESTON-1780. 



The British campaigns of ly/G-iyyj not having resulted 
in the Northern States so successfully as the British com- 
manders had anticipated, in 1778 they began to turn their 
attention to the Southern States, hoping to subjugate these 
and restore them to their allegiance to the British Crown. 
In pursuance of this plan an expedition was undertaken 
against Georgia, which resulted in the capture of Savannah, 
its capital, on 29th December, 1778. During 1779, ^^^ 
sending troops into the interior of Georgia, the futile 
attempt of Gen. Prevost to capture Charleston by surprise, 
and the defence of Savannah against the siege laid to it by 
the combined forces of America and France, and which re- 
sulted so disastrously to the American cause, prevented any 
very determined efforts by the British in the prosecution of 
the proposed plan of campaign. Stedman, in the History 
of the American War, says : "Sir Henry Clinton having been 
cramped in his operations by the proceedings of the French 
fleet under the Count d'Estaing, whose unsuccessful attack 
upon Savannah, together with his final departure from the 
American coast, has already been related, no sooner received 
certain information of the departure of d'Estaing than he set 
on foot an expedition, the object of which was the taking 
of Charleston and the reduction of the Province of South 
Carolina. Th6 troops designed for this expedition were 
immediately embarked on board the transports ; and these 
escorted by Admiral Arbuthnot with an adequate naval 
force sailed from Sandy Hook on the 26th December, 1779. 
Sir Henry Clinton (British Commander-in-chief in America) 
accompanied the expedition, leaving the garrison at New 
York under the command of Lieut.-Gen. Knyphausen. The 
passage might have been expected to be performed in ten 
days, but such was the uncommon severity of the season 
that the fleet was very soon separated and driven out of its 
course by the tempestuous weather, and scarcely any of the 
ships arrived at Tybee, the appointed place of rendezvous, 
before the end of January. Some few straggling vessels 



were taken, some others were lost, and all received more or 
less damage. Almost all the horses belonging to the artil- 
lery or cavalry perished during the passage ; and amongst 
the ships that were lost was one which contained the heavy 
ordnance ; the crews were all saved. Those ships being 
refitted that stood in need of immediate repair, the fleet 
sailed from Tybee to North Edisto Sound, in the Colony of 
South Carolina; and on the nth February the troops were 
disembarked on John's Island, about thirty miles from 
Charles Town. Part of the fleet was immediately sent 
round to block up the harbor of Charles Town by sea, 
whilst the troops slowly advancing through the country 
passed from John's to James Island, and from thence, over 
Wappoo Cut, to the main land, until they at length reached 
the banks of Ashley River, opposite to Charles Town."* 

The purpose of this paper is to give as clear an account 
as practicable of the siege of Charleston, with references to 
the locations as known at this date. 

The North Edisto empties into the Atlantic about twenty- 
five or thirty miles South of Charleston ; John's Island is 
on its Northern or left bank, and that Island has for its 
Northern boundary the Stono River; James Island is on 
the Northern or left bank of the Stono, and that Island 
has for its Northern boundary the waters of Charleston har- 
bor and Wappoo Cut, which connects the waters of Charles- 
ton harbor with the Stono River, about twenty miles above 
its outlet into the Atlantic. The Stono Ferry is about 
seven or eight miles higher up the Stono River, and that 
ferry is distant by land from Charleston about twelve or 
fourteen miles, but by the old road across Ashley Ferry 
(now Bee's Ferry or Savannah Railroad Bridge crossing) 
about twenty miles. The Wadmalaw River is an inland 
water communication between the North Edisto River to 
the Southward, and the Stono River to the Northward, and 

* The strength of Sir Henry Clinton's expeditionary army is stated in Tar- 
leton's memoirs as " four flank battalions, twelve regiments and corps, British, 
Hessian, and Provincial, a powerful detachment of artillery, two hundred and 
fifty cavalry, and complete supplies of military stores and provisions." 



the connection between the two is made a h'ttle higher up, 
say two or three miles above Stono Ferry. 

Tarleton says: "On loth February the transports, with 
great part of the army on board, convoyed by a proper 
force, sailed from Savannah to North Edisto, the place of 
debarkation which had been previously appointed. They 
had a favorable and speedy passage, and though it required 
time to have the bar explored and the channel marked, by 
the activity of the navy these difficulties were surmounted, 
the transports all entered the harbor the next day, and the 
army immediately took possession of John's Island and 
Stono Ferry; James Island, Peronneau's Landing, Wappoo 
Cut and other adjacent places Were soon afterwards obtained, 
and by a bridge thrown over the canal the necessary com- 
munications were secured and the advanced part of the 
King's army occupied the bank of the Ashley River, oppo- 
site to Charles Town." 

On the retreat of Gen. Prevost in May, 1779, he had taken 
the route by these Sea Islands. In June, i779. ^ stubborn 
battle had taken place near Stono Ferry, the American 
army endeavoring to cross at that place so as to attack 
the rear of the British then on John's Island. Sir Henry 
Clinton was, therefore, acquainted with these water-ways, 
and knew that if he was to be molested on John's Island, it 
was almost necessarily by the way of Stono Ferry. The 
promptness with which he possessed himself of Stono Ferry 
shewed his appreciation of its value to him. In all prob- 
ability the flat bottomed and light draught vessels required 
to pass over the Church Flat Shoals, where the Wadmalaw 
and Stono Rivers connect their waters, had been all pre- 
pared prior to his sailing from Savannah, so as to allow him 
to act with despatch. Stedman says: "The flat bottomed 
boats had been brought from North Edisto Sound, through 
the inlets by which the coast is intersected, until- they en- 
tered Ashley River by Wappoo Cut." The possession of 
this ferry enabled him to prepare more leisurely and effec- 
tively for his future operations against Charles Town. It 
was scarcely possible for the American army to attack him 



6 

on John's Island by the way of James Island, for the Stono 
River, during the whole of its course separating it from 
John's Island, is a bold, navigable stream, in which the 
British fleet could send light vessels, and so render any 
attack very hazardous to the American army. 

Simmons' Island, now known as Seabrook's Island, is an 
island lying between John's Island and the ocean ; it is 
separated from John's Island by Bohicket Creek and its 
marshes. It presented a good landing, and near its Northern 
end, the marshy ground which separates it from John's 
Island is about two to three hundred yards wide, a fairly 
firm sandy marsh. From there a road runs nearly parallel 
with the creek to near Church Creek Bridge, from whence 
one fork leads to Stono Ferry and another fork to the plan- 
tation on Stono River known as Head-quarters, now owned 
by Mr. D. J. Townsend, but then owned by Thomas Fen- 
wick, a loyalist. Opposite to this plantation, which has a 
fair landing, on the James Island side of Stono River, was 
and is a good landing, then known as Peronneau's landing ; 
it is on the plantation owned by the late Jas. M. Lawton, 
and is about a short mile from Wappoo Ferry at its junc- 
tion with Stono River. Tarleton says Peronneau's land- 
ing was seized ; and it probably was by a detachment 
sent across from this Head-quarters plantation. Near this 
landing on James Island the road forked ; the right hand 
fork ran through James Island and entered Fort Johnson 
on the rear or land side ; the left hand fork led to Wappoo 
Cut, a short mile distant. 

On I2th February, 1780, Gen. Lincoln wrote to Gen. 
Washington : " I have received information that on 3d inst. 
the enemy landed about eight thousand troops, commanded 
by Sir Henry Clinton. * * I am told that fifty sail of 
vessels got into North Edisto this day. * * By a person 
just from Edisto I learn that the number of vessels in the 
harbor there is little short of fifty." On 14th February 
Lieut.-Col. John Laurens wrote Gen. Washington: "The 
day before yesterday, we had certain intelligence of the 
arrival of forty-five sail at North Edisto. A debarkation 



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immediately commenced on Simmons' Island, and an ad- 
vanced corps, it is said, of five hundred proceeded the fol- 
lowing day to John's Island." This letter is, so far as I 
know, the only positive statement as to the place of debarka- 
tion. 

On 4th March, 1780, Gen. Lincoln wrote Gen. Washing- 
ton : " Sir Harry seems to be collecting his force on James 
Island, and is there throwing up some works; one among 
the ruins of Fort Johnson, another a little to the Westward 
of it. It is said that he is also throwing up a bomb battery- 
opposite the town. Drawing his principal force to this 
island, hauling his galleys and other armed vessels of small 
draught of water near the mouth of Wappoo, collecting a 
number of boats there, indicate that an attempt on the 
Southerly part of the town by boats will be made." On 
14th March, Lieut-Col. Laurens writes Gen. Washington : 
" His (the enemy's) transports and store ships have removed 
from Edisto up Stono River, where they lie contiguous to 
Wappoo Cut, which is the water communication from thence 
to Ashley River. At a point of the main land, formed by 
the issuing of the former into the latter, he raised in the 
course of a night, the i ith inst., a battery of six embrasures. 
This situation, naturally advantageous, he will probably 
render very strong, and establish in it his deposit of military 
stores and provisions. He may then either force a passage 
over Ashley River or turn it by a circuitous march, fortify 
a camp on the neck and open his trenches. The best com- 
munication between his magazines and camp will be across 
Ashley River, from a bluff, marked Bull in your large map." 

Stedman, writing from the British standpoint, says: "So 
great were the impediments that they met in their progress 
or such the extreme caution of the Commander-in-chief in 
establishing and fortifying posts to preserve his communi- 
cation with the sea, that it was not until the 29th March 
that the advance of the army crossed Ashley River at the 
ferry, and landed on Charles Town Neck, some miles above 
the town. The flat-bottomed boats had been brought from 
North Edisto Sound through the inlets by which the coast 



is intersected, until they entered Ashley River by Wappoo 
Cut ; and the passing over of the troops was conducted with 
much address by Capt. Elphinstone, of the navy. On the 
following day the troops encamped in front of the American 
lines; and on the ist of April began to break ground before 
Charles Town, at the distance of eight hundred yards from 
the Provincial works." As there were no impediments, the 
slow approach was due to Sir Henry Clinton's caution. As 
previously stated, he had ordered reinforcements to be sent 
him from New York and Savannah. The latter, over twelve 
hundred under Gen. Patterson, marched by land, and had 
some immaterial skirmishing with small bodies of militia ; 
this was the only impediment the advance met with. Gen. 
Moultrie was stationed at Bacon's Bridge, on the head of 
the Ashley River, but was never in contact with the enemy, 
except to capture a few picquets. 

Gen. Moultrie, writing to Gen. Lincoln on 22d February, 
1780, says : " I did not write you sooner, as I waited for the 
return of a party of horse that had gone out towards the 
enemy's lines at Stono, which returned last night. Maj. 
Jemeson informs me he was within view of the Gentries of 
their picquets, posted at the cross-roads ; that he had not 
heard of any number coming out, except the first day or 
two, to drive in some stock. By the accounts he got, he 
believes there are not so many at Stono as when they first 
took post there; that some of them are returned to John's 
Island." The cross-roads alluded to, are doubtless the inter- 
section of the roads about a half mile from Stono Ferry on 
the main land, where the roads to old Ashley Ferry and 
the lower part of St. Andrew's Parish meet ; and the British 
picquet was for the Stono Ferry. On 25th February, the 
same officer writes, that yesterday, " I took the two Majors 
and a party with me to reconnoitre the enemy on James 
and John's Island. We proceeded to Wappoo Cut, from 
whence we had a very good view of their whole encamp- 
ment : their left on Stono River, extending their right along 
the ditch in Mr. Hudson's pasture, to the end of the ditch, 
near Wappoo Creek, which 1 take to be a quarter of a mile; 



9 

by the stacks of arms, and number of men moving about, I 
judge them to be about one thousand or twelve hundred, 
British and Hessians : in Stono River I saw three gallies and 
two schooners, and some small boats sailing down the river : 
one galley lay at the mouth of Wappoo Cut ; another lay at 
Hudson's landing, and one at Fenwick's lower landing: 
they have thrown up a work near the cut." Richard Hut- 
son at that time owned the plantation on James Island, im- 
mediately at the junction of Wappoo Cut and Stono River, 
and the ditch above alluded to is probably what is now 
known as Elliott's Cut. This Elliott's Cut had been opened 
prior to 1777 by William Elliott, through "high and loose 
land," and almost certainly is the ditch alluded to. In the 
map accompanying Stedman's History of the American 
War, a fleche or redoubt is shewn directly at the intersec- 
tion of Wappoo Cut and Stono River, and another, appar- 
ently a square redoubt, is shewn on Wappoo Creek, about 
a half mile nearer to Charleston. 

On 28th February, Col. Daniel Horry writes: "I am just 
returned from Lucas' old field and Wappoo Cut : and with 
a small party I went over to a point called Long Island : 
the galley is at her old station, and about twenty-four or 
twenty-five at Mr. Hutson's landing, with four armed 
schooners, and two other schooners, with a number of 
armed boats are now going up Stono ; probably with a view 
to bring off the baggage from that post ; which we are told 
now consists of a command, with six hundred men to guard 
their provisions and boats." The reinforcements under 
Gen. Patterson were now advancing along the road by Stono 
Ferry, for on 29th February, Maj. Richard Call says, " the 
officer who went down the Pon Pon Road reports that their 
drums beat and their horns sounded about eight o'clock." 
This approach enabled a concentration on James Island 
preparatory to an advance. On ist March, Capt. Philip 
Neyle writes : "I this moment received intelligence from 
Maj. Vernier, that all the enemy have crossed Wappoo, and 
are approaching this way" (Bacon's Bridge). On 7th March, 
he again writes : " By accounts received from Maj, Vernier, 
2 



10 

and a prisoner taken this morning, the enemy crossed Wap- 
poo last night at eight o'clock, with one thousand grenadiers 
and light infantry: the last accounts we had of them they 
were about three miles from Ashley Ferry; we cannot learn 
what their intentions were, unless they designed to surprise 
Maj. Vernier's post." 

The British troops which were thus crossed over Wappoo, 
proceeded, apparently, first to make a footing at Fenwick's 
place. On 19th March, Gen. Moultrie writes : "The enemy 
are at Fenwick's place, at the mouth of Wappoo Creek, 
making batteries and other works directly opposite the 
town." This agrees with Tarleton's account, and Sted- 
man's map shews the location of Fenwick's to be at, or 
near, where the present phosphate work of Mr. C. C. Pinck- 
ney, formerly Sardy's, is now situate. On 24th March, 
Gen. Lincoln writes: "The enemy are now extending their 
works on Ashley River, from the mouth of Wappoo, with 
a design to cover their stores, which they can land near the 
first work, at the mouth of the creek, and remove them a 
mile or two across land to the head of another creek which 
empties into the Ashley, where they have a work also, 
which is opposite a good landing on this side. I think they 
will throw their troops across above, take post at this land- 
ing, and then transport their stores, which will save them a 
very long land carriage." The creek thus referred to is now 
known as Old Town or Lining's Creek, and there is a bold 
landing on it, at the plantation called Old Town, lately the 
property of Wm. M. Parker, deceased. The admirable map 
prepared under the direction of Hon. William A. Courtenay, 
Mayor of Charleston, and forming part of his Year Book, 
1883, for which every student of history should be grate- 
ful to him, shews not only this creek and its proximity 
to Wappoo, but shews the lines of defence and attack dur- 
ing the siege of Charleston, and probably elucidates this 
account better than words can do. In Stedman's map, the 
work on Old Town Creek, referred to by Gen. Lincoln, is 
shewn. 

On 20th and 21st March the British fleet were crossing 



11 

the bar. It had been at first contemplated that the Ameri- 
can fleet, under Commodore Whipple, should resist the 
crossing; but he "did not choose to risk an engagement," 
as Gen. Moultrie phrases it ; brought all his vessels up to 
the town, and sunk them in Cooper River between Schulte's 
Folly and the town, so as to prevent the British fleet getting 
into Cooper River, and flanking the town. On 7th April 
the British fleet passed Fort Moultrie, not stopping to en- 
gage it, and suffering but comparatively little damage, " an- 
chored under Fort Johnson." Col. Charles C Pinckney 
was thereupon ordered up from Fort Moultrie, and Lieut. - 
Col. Scott left in command there. Gen. Moultrie, who had 
been in command of the cavalry and militia, at Bacon's 
Bridge, was relieved in consequence of illness, and on 9th 
March returned to Charleston, and Gen. Isaac Huger took 
his place. 

The British troops having thrown up works at Fenwick's 
place, on the right bank of the Ashley River, as before told, 
continued to advance by the road to Bee's Ferry, and on 
29th March crossed the Ashley River at or near that ferry, 
Sir Henry Clinton's map says " at Drayton's," in force. 
Tarleton says : " Capt. Elphinstone, of the navy, having 
stationed the gallies to protect the boats on their passage 
with the troops to the neck, twelve miles above Charles 
Town, the main body of the forces moved from their ground, 
embarked and crossed the river on the 29th March, without 
opposition. On the following day Sir Henry Clinton order- 
ed the Light Infantry and Yagers, supported by the Grena- 
diers and the other corps and regiments, to gain the princi- 
pal road, and move on towards the lines of the enemy. A 
few scattered parties of the Americans skirmished with the 
head of the column, and after wounding the Earl of Carth- 
ness, acting Aid-de-camp to the Commander-in-chief, and 
a few private men, fell back to their fortifications. 1 he 
Royal army without further molestation took a position 
across the neck, about a mile and a half from Charles Town, 
and effectually invested it between the Rivers Ashley and 
Cooper. Great part of Brig.-Gen. Patterson's command was 



12 

left near Wappoo Cut, in order to guard the magazines, till 
the main body should gain the neck ; when a passage across 
Ashley River was to be sought for nearer the town, for the 
conveniency of transporting all the requisites of a siege. 
Capt. Elphinstone soon discovered a landing place, which 
shortened the trouble and delay attendant upon land car- 
riage, and by which the King's troops received supplies of 
cannon, stores, provisions and baggage with facility and ex- 
pedition." On 26th March Gen. Moultrie wrote: "The 
enemy are advancing slow ; the head of their army is about 
John Cattels, but I imagine they intend crossing over to 
Gibbes' place with their main body : they are busily employ- 
ed on the opposite shore, in making fascines and other 
things." In his journal of the siege, his entries are : " Tues- 
day, March 28th, 1780. The enemy crossed Ashley River, 
in force, above the ferry. Wednesday 29th. The enemy 
advanced on the neck. The Light Infantry were this even- 
ing reinforced with two companies, and the command given 
to Col, Laurens. Thursday 30th. The enemy came on as 
far as Gibbes', where they continued skirmishing throughout 
the day with our Light Infantry: the enemy were reinforc- 
ed in the evening, with two field pieces and ninety men, 
which obliged our party to retire into garrison about dark. 
Capt. Bowman of the No. Ca. Brigade killed ; Major Hyrne 
and seven privates wounded. The enemy were all this day 
transporting troops from Old Town, on Wappoo Creek, to 
Gibbes'." On 9th April Gen. Lincoln wrote : " The enemy 
crossed the Ashley in force, near the ferry, on the 29th ulto., 
and the next day moved down and encamped about 3000 
yards from our lines. Before this, they had transported 
their heavy baggage, ordnance and stores, from out of Wap- 
poo, across land, about two miles, to Old Town Creek, on 
the West side of the river, opposite their encampment." 
On the same day Lieut.-Col. Laurens wrote : " On the 29th 
ulto. they crossed Ashley River in force, one mile above the 
ferry. The next day they advanced to Gibbes', a conveni- 
ent landing, about two miles from town, having previously 
collected a number of boats at the opposite shore, for the 



18 

purpose of crossing their heavy artillery and stores. My 
battalion of Light Infantry, posted there to prevent a sur- 
prise, or too sudden approach of the enemy, was ordered 
not to engage seriously, but skirmish with advanced parties, 
retiring slowly and orderly towards town, as there was no 
object in maintaining an advanced post, and the advanta- 
ges of a serious affair were all on the side of the enemy." 

The place of arms at Fenwick's having been made secure, 
it would appear that Sir Henry Clinton advanced the main 
body of his forces from there by the river road running 
parallel with Ashley River and falling into the main road at 
Ashley (now Bee's) Ferry, crossed at Drayton's, very near 
Drayton Hall, and marching down the Dorchester Road fell 
into the State Road at the quarter or six mile house, down 
this main State Road he marched until his advance reached 
the neighborhood of what is now known as Grove Street, 
and in that neighborhood went into camp ; his right extend- 
ing towards Ashley River to cover and protect the proposed 
landing at Gibbes' Farm, and his left probably occupying 
the high land about the present Cool Blow Farm, having 
New Market Creek on its front. It must be borne in mind 
that at that time the present King Street Road was the only 
road into the country, the Meeting Street Road not then 
existing. So that the British forces extended from the 
Ashley River on their right to the marshes of Cooper River 
on their left. Stedman's majf shows that this was about 
their disposition. At that time Charleston nominally ex- 
tended to Calhoun, formerly Boundary, Street, although 
a great part of that above Beaufain and Hasel Streets was 
very little built upon, so that the British camp was a little 
under two miles from the Northern limit of the town. At 
that time the present driving park owned by Capt. Frede- 
rick W. Wagener, together with the lands South of it, were 
owned by John Gibbes, and a fairly hard landing place with 
little m.arsh was to be found at the Ashley River end of the 
present Grove Street on this Gibbes' Farm ; this landing is 
very nearly opposite to the mouth of Old Town Creek; it 
afforded the nearest firm landing to Charleston, as nearly 



14 

all South of it was an extensive marsh. This Gibbes' land- 
ing was, then, that discovered by Capt. Elphinstone, and 
by which the King's troops received supplies, &c., with 
facility and expedition. 

The main army being now encamped about two miles 
from the town, and their stores of cannon, &c., being trans- 
ported across at Gibbes' landing. Sir Henry Clinton lost no 
time in commencing the active operations of the siege. As 
Col. John Laurens tells, he skirmished with the advance on 
30th March ; and, as Gen. Moultrie tells, Col. Laurens' com- 
mand retired into the garrison about dark of that day. 
The 31st March and ist April were spent by the garrison 
in " mounting cannon, throwing traverses, &c.," and by the 
besieging force was probably spent in transporting fascines, 
cannon, &c., and moving them towards the places at which 
they were to be used. 

Tarleton says : " The defences of Charles Town on the 
land side consisted of a chain of redoubts, lines and bat- 
teries extending from one river to the other, and furnished 
with eighty cannon and mortars ; the front works of each 
flank were strengthened by swamps originating in the neigh- 
boring rivers, and tending towards the centre, through 
which they were connected by a canal passing from one to 
the other. Between these outward impediments and the re- 
doubts were two strong rows of abbatis ; the trees being 
buried standing in the earth with their branches facing out- 
wards formed a heavy fraize work against the assailants, and 
these were further secured by a ditch double picketted. In 
the centre the natural defences were inferior to those on 
the flanks; to remedy this defect, and to cover the principal 
gate, a horn-work of masonry had been constructed, which 
being closed during the siege formed a kind of citadel. 
The fortifications facing the two rivers and the harbor had 
been erected with uncommon labor and expense. Ships 
with chevaux de fuse, connected by spars and booms, were 
employed to block up the channels in order to hinder a 
near approach of the King's frigates, and piles of pickets 
were fixed in the ground at all the landing places to pre- 



15 

vent any debarkation from boats ; the whole extent was 
likewise covered by batteries formed of earth and pimetto 
(probably palmetto) wood, judiciously placed and mounted 
with heavy cannon. The garrison, under the orders of Gen. 
Lincoln, was composed of ten weak Continental and State 
regiments of militia drawn from the Carolinas and Virginia, 
and of the inhabitants of the town, amounting in the whole 
to near six thousand men, exclusive of the sailors. The 
body of regular troops destined for this service, though 
assisted by the militia and by the inhabitants, was scarcely 
adequate to the defence of such extensive fortifications." 
Stedman, without giving as much detail, confirms the above. 
Moultrie gives the number of batteries on the lines as six- 
teen, and facing the rivers as ten ; those on the lines mounted 
seventy-nine guns, those on the rivers mounted ninety-five 
guns; he does not give the locations of those on the lines, 
but gives the names of those on the rivers. Beginning with 
those on the North facing Cooper River, and proceeding 
South, and then West on Ashley River, these river bat- 
teries were : 

1. Liberty Battery, called on the French map " du quai 
de Gadsden," about Washington and Charlotte Streets. 

2. Laurens Battery, called on the French map " vieux 
Indien," about the Eastern foot of Laurens Street. There 
may be some doubt whether these are the same. 

3. Craven's, Governor Bridge, called on the French map 
" du Pont du Governeur," on the site of the present United 
States Custom House. 

4. Exchange, called on the French map " de la Bourse," 
nearly back of the present Post Office. 

5. Grenville's, called on the French map " de I'extremite 
de la Baye," about the site of the house now occupied by 
Col. W. L. Trenholm, No. i East Bay. 

6. Lyttleton's, called on the French map " de Darrell," 
near the site of the residence of the late James G. Holmes, 
No. — East Battery. 

7. Broughton's, called on the French map " Wilkins," 



16 

between Church Street and Meeting Street, in the present 
White Point Garden. 

8. Gibbes, near the Western end of South Bay Street. 

9. Bretigney's, called in the French map " Ferguson's," 
near the Western end of Gibbes Street. 

10. Sugar House, about where Broad and New Streets 
meet. 

The French map gives another battery facing Ash- 
ley River, and calls it " Du vieux Magasin." This was 
about the West end of Magazine Street, near the present 
jail ; for thirty years previously there had been a battery 
there ; it was at the head of a creek which ran through the 
old Rutledge Street pond ; all that creek and pond is now 
built upon. 

The same map shows another battery called " de la Pointe 
Nd Quest," near the W^est end of the present Montague 
Street, and another called " de la Pointe de Comming," 
near the West end of Beaufain Street. Both of these were 
probably about Lynch Street. 

The French map shews very well the wet ditch and 
cheveaux de fuse (the abattis of Tarleton) with the interval 
in the latter, and the crossing over the former by which 
troops could pass ; the interval is in the form of a loop. 

The location of these river batteries are well shewn on 
the map prepared under direction of Mayor Courtenay; 
some are also shown on Stedman's map, but the scale is too 
small to shew them distinctly; and are remarkably well 
shewn upon a French map recently obtained by Daniel 
Ravenel, Esq., which is very interesting, and the scale of 
which allows a tolerably fair measurement for locations. 
This French map is probably a copy of Brig.-Gen. Du Por- 
tail's engineers' map ; he was in Charleston during the siege. 

"The lines," Dr. Joseph Johnson says, "which defended 
Charleston were on that ridge of land where St. Paul's 
Church, the Orphan House, the Citadel and the Second 
Presbyterian Church now stand, extending to the river on 
both sides. On East side of King Street there was a strong 



17 011 800 971 fl 

elevated fortress or citadel, faced with tapia or tabby, a 
remnant of which is still visible on the East side of it, about 
forty yards from the street, on a vacant lot between the 
picket guard house and Dr. Boylston's, owned by Mr. Mor- 
decai Cohen (this remnant, enclosed by an iron rail on the 
present Marion Square, is, it is believed, the only now exist- 
ing relic of the lines of the Revolution). These were called 
the horn-works; this was the post of honor." 

On a map drawn by John Diamond in 1807, for the cut- 
ting of a proposed canal across what was then called the 
neck, the marshes or swamps (as Tarleton calls them) from 
Cooper and Ashley Rivers are well shewn. That from 
Cooper River began just North of Chapel Street, and run 
a little North of the present Northeastern Railroad depot ; 
its course was Southwest wardly, and terminated near the 
corners of King, John and Warren Streets. That from 
Ashley River was the marshes of Comings' Creek ; the creek 
bifurcated, the Northern fork extending about on the line 
of Morris Street to St. Philip Street ; the Southern fork ran 
a little below on the line of Warren Street, nearly to St. 
Philip. It will thus be seen that the width between King 
Street and St. Philip Street separated these marshes, but 
the wet ditch was actually extended much further both 
East and West. On the Eastern end of the lines a heavy 
battery was erected, very near where the Northeastern Rail- 
road passenger depot now is, and on the Western end a 
heavy battery was erected, this was between Warren and 
Morris Streets on the South and North, and Thomas and 
Smith Streets on the East and West : these two batteries 
looked through the wet ditch. The Western battery was 
a little outside of the lines, but there was a covered way 
into the lines, and a battery just within covered the way 
leading into the lines. Diamond's plat of 1807 shews the 
remains of these old batteries, and the P'rench map makes 
the whole lines, ditch, abattis, batteries, &c., very clear. 

The lines of defence being above stated, with their loca- 
tions described so as to be intelligible to those who know 
the Charleston of to-day, the operations of Sir Henry Clin- 



18 

ton are told by Tarleton as follows: "The General and his 
engineers having fixed upon the mode and point of attack, 
a large working party broke ground, under cover of an ad- 
vanced detachment, on the night of ist April. Two large 
redoubts were thrown up within eight hundred yards of the 
American lines, and were not discovered before day-break, 
when the fire from the town had very inconsiderable effect. 
The next evening another redoubt was added, and for five 
successive days and nights the labor of the artificers and 
soldiers was directed to the construction of batteries, which, 
on the 8th, were completed with artillery." The French 
map has this note : " Redoutes, approchcs et batteries de 
I'armee Britanniquc, sous Ic commandement du Lieu't-Gen- 
eral Sir Henry Clinton, Chev. du Bain. Redoutes numer- 
otces I, 2, 3, 4, 5 et 6, commencees le 1st Avril pour etablir 
la premiere parallele. O. Seconde parallelc terminee le 
19 de Avril. P. Troisieme parallele terminee le 6 Mai et 
canal raigne par une Sappe condiute juisqu's I'Ecluse. 
9 batteries de canons, 2 batteries de mortiers." Gen. Wood- 
ford (American) on 8th April says: " The first of this month 
they broke ground in our front. Their nearest work is upon 
our right (Cooper River), at six hundred yards distance from 
ours, and they fall off from eight and nine to eleven hundred 
yards on our left. They have done a great deal of work : 
their battery upon Cooper River is in the greatest forward- 
ness. * * They have been employed for several days 
and nights, in opening lines of communication between 
their batteries, which appear in great forwardness. Ex- 
clusive of these, they have a battery upon our left 
flank at Wappoo Cut, and some galleys brought in by 
the passage of Stono River. These are mounted with 
32 and 24 pounders ; but the distance is at least a mile and 
a quarter from our left, too far to do any considerable exe- 
cution." On 9th April, Gen. Lincoln says: "On the morn- 
ing of the 1st inst. we discovered that they had opened 
ground in several places in our front, about eleven hundred 
yards therefrom. The next night they threw up a work on 
our left, distance nine hundred yards. The next which ap- 



19 

peared was on Cooper River, six hundred yards from our 
right ; these, and some which they have since raised, seem 
to be closed. They have been some nights perfecting their 
works and opening lines of communication. What they 
have done seems rather calculated to cover their approaches 
than to annoy us from them." On the same day Lieut-Col. 
Laurens says : "On the night of the 1st inst. the enemy 
broke ground, and have been working slowly ever since. I 
scarcely know how to denominate what they have executed 
hitherto. It consists of several redoubts, with a covered 
communication from right to left, which is still unfinished. 
Their nearest work is an enclosed battery on their left, 
which induces me to believe that they intend the line in 
question for a first parallel, although some parts of it are 
rather too remote. Our shells and shot have disquieted 
them and interrupted their operations; but Gen. Lincoln, 
sensible of the value of these articles in a siege, economizes 
them as much as possible. Fatigue parties are con- 
stantly employed in improving our works. The whole 
front of our lines within the abattis is armed with wolf 
traps. All this affords an excellent defence against 
storm, but must finally yield to a perseverance in regu- 
lar approaches, which appears to be Clinton's present 
plan, unless we can work under his fire as fast as he 
can, and afford time for the arrival of your Excellency." 
Gen. Moultrie's diary reads : " Sunday, 2d (April). Last 
night the enemy broke ground, and this morning appeared 
two redoubts: one nearly opposite the nine gun battery, 
on the right of the horn-work ; the other a little to the left 
of the same, at about twelve hundred yards distance from 
our lines. Monday, 3d. The enemy employed in complet- 
ing their two redoubts, and erecting one on our left at an 
equal distance from the road." On the same day he wrote 
to a friend in the country: "The enemy are before our 
lines, and throwing up works very fast : they have four re- 
doubts abreast finished : one at the Broad Road at Watson's, 
one at Hampstcad, where Sir Edmund Head's house stood, 
one between these two, another they have on our left, near 



20 

Cummins' Point ; I suppose to-night they will have one 
where Tagart's house stood." His diary of Wednesday, 5th, 
says: "Last night the enemy continued his approaches to 
Hampstead Hill, on which they erected a battery for twelve 
cannon ; and a mortar battery a little in the rear. * * * 
The battery from Wappoo and the gallies have thrown 
several shot into town, by which one of the inhabitants in 
King Street was killed. Thursday, 6th. The enemy ap- 
proached from their centre redoubt and erected a five gun 
battery on the angle between batteries 11 and 12. Friday, 
7th. This afternoon twelve sail of the enemy's vessels 
passed Fort Moultrie, under a very heavy fire. Sunday, 9th. 
The enemy last night continued their approaches from their 
redoubt on the left, and threw up a battery for ten cannon 
against the angle of our advanced redoubt, and the redan 
No. 7. Monday, loth. Sir Henry Clinton and Admiral 
Arbuthnot summoned the town." Gen. Lincoln refused to 
surrender. 

Sir Henry Clinton's map, and the French map, both give 
the positions and numbers of the British redoubts upon 
their first parallel. Sir Henry Clinton's gives also the head- 
quarters of himself and his general ofificers, the positions of 
his troops, his artillery park, and his store of commissary 
tools. In giving the positions of his troops, it states that 
he had two battalions of British Grenadiers ; four battalions 
of Hessian Grenadiers; two battalions of the 71st Regi- 
ment ; the 7th and 33d Regiments ; two battalions of Light 
Lifantry ; two battalions of the 41st Regiment; Hessian 
Yagers (or Jagers), and Artillerists : aggregating twelve bat- 
talions, two full regiments, the Yagers and Artillerists. 
This would probably make a force of about ten to twelve 
thousand, and agrees with what Stedman had said, viz : he 
brought 8000 men from New York, was reinforced by 2500 
men under Cornwallis from New York, and by 1200 under 
Prevost from Savannah. The Americans who surrendered, 
aggregated, of^cers, men, musicians and all, 5570, of whom 
2152 were officers without commands, militia, citizens, and 
a French local company. 



21 

From Sir Menry Clinton's map, his own headquarters 
must have been somewhere between Sans Souci Street and 
the Northern boundary of the city, probably on or about 
Dr. Geiger's farm. Lord Cornwallis' headquarters I cannot 
locate. Gen. Leslie's headquarters were somewhere in the 
neighborhood of Congress Street and Rutledge Avenue. 
And Gen. Kosborth's headquarters somewhere in the neigh- 
borhood of Cool Blow Farm. The Artillery park was about 
the present Washington Race Course, and the store for com- 
missary tools on the farm West of that Race Course. On 
that map, the British batteries on the first parallel are num- 
bered from Ashley to Cooper River; his right as a matter 
of course being opposite the American left, and his right 
redoubt. No. i, facing the left redoubt of the American's; 
but in fact overlapping it a little. Gen. Moultrie, in stating 
the American batteries, begins "No. i. Beginning on the 
left " — so that, taking his manner of enumeration, the Ame- 
rican and British batteries No. i nearly faced each other. 

The diary and letter of Gen. Moultrie, with the several 
maps referred to, allow us to approximate very closely to 
the line of the British first parallel. The diary says on 2d 
April : " This morning appeared two redoubts, one nearly 
opposite the nine gun battery, on the right of the horn-work, 
the other a little to the left of the same." In the batteries 
enumerated by Gen. Moultrie, there was only one nine gun 
battery on the American lines: judging, from the faces of 
the lines as they appear upon the French map, and appa- 
rently from Sir Henry Clinton's map, this nine gun Ameri- 
can battery would have been located somewhat East of the 
present Meeting and North of Charlotte Street, probabl)' 
very much on the site of the present Second Presbyterian 
Church (Flynn's Church). In the letter of 3d April, he says 
of the British redoubts : " One at the Broad Road at Wat- 
son's." The redoubt thus mentioned must have been about 
the present Line Street, and a little West of King, and is 
No. 3 on the maps. Watson's garden was the square boun- 
ded b)' the present Line and Columbus Streets on the North 
and South, King Street (or the Broad Road as it was then 



09 



called) on the West, and a line a little East of the present 
Meeting Street (not then laid out) on the East. The other 
a "little to the left of the same" must have been the Brit- 
ish No. 4, and was, in all probability, on Line Street, a little 
East of Meeting. The "one at Hampstead where Sir Ed- 
mond Head's house stood," was apparently the British No. 
5, and probably near the corner of Blake and Aiken Streets. 
" The other on our left, near Cummins' Point," is the British 
No. I, and apparently was located a little West of Smith 
and South of Boisgard Street. The twelve gun battery, 
Hampstead Hill, referred to in Gen. Moultrie's diary of 5th 
April, was somewhere near Blake and Bay Streets, between 
Blake and Columbus Streets. The American lines trended 
from Northeast to Southwest, and the British lines followed 
the same direction : the flanks of both lines were nearer 
than the centres, by probably two hundred yards. 

The Western or left, American, battery before mentioned 
as appearing on Diamond's plat, and which was about War- 
ren, Smith and Thomas Streets, was probably the "advance 
redoubt" of Gen. Moultrie's enumeration. No;;. I and 2 
were parts of the lines, and were a little West of the ad- 
vance redoubt, probably, partly, looking across Cannon's 
pond to the high land on the opposite side near Rutledge 
and Doughty Streets. No. 3 was probably a little East of 
the advance redoubt, say about Vanderhorst and Coming 
Street. No. 4 was probably on Vanderhorst Street, East of 
Coming. No. 5 was somewhere near the Orphan House 
Chapel. Nos. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 were probably all grouped 
near the horn-work, and extended from King Street, to 
near Anson, a little North of Hudson Street. The position 
of No. 12, the only nine gun battery mentioned by Moultrie, 
has been already stated. Nos. 13 and 14 probably adjoined 
it nearly on the East, and covered the point up to Chapel 
Street, on which the Northeastern Railroad passenger de- 
pot now is, and in their front was a creek and marsh. Cam- 
bray's Battery was possibly an interior work covering the 
opening in the lines to the advance redoubt. 

During the night of the 8th they had "continued their 



^3 

approaches from their redoubt on the left, and threw up a 
battery for ten cannon, against the angle of our advanced 
redoubt and the redan No. 7." This battery, it appears by 
the maps, was somewhere in the neighborhood of the pres- 
ent Hampstead Mall, a little West of it ; and a mortar bat- 
tery seems to have been erected a little East of it. 

The town was summoned on loth April ; on the i ith and 
I2th "the enemy busied in completing their works and 
mounting cannon." The diary continues : " Thursday, 13th. 
Between 9 and 10 o'clock this morning, the enemy opened 
their cannon and mortar batteries. The cannonade and 
bombardment continued, with short intermissions, until 
midnight ; the gallies and battery at Wappoo also fired. 

* "''' Some women and children killed in town. - * 
They threw several carcasses from 8 and lo-inch mortars, 
by which two houses were burnt. Friday, 14th. The ene- 
my began an approach on the right, and kept up a fire of 
small arms. Cannonade and bombardment continued. * 

* Saturday. 15th. The enemy continued approaciiing on 
the right. * * A continual fire of small arms, cannon 
and mortars. A batter}^ of two guns opened by the enemy 
at Stiles' place, on James Island. Major Grimball's corps 
of militia relieved from the advanced redoubt, by a detach- 
ment of Continental artillery commanded by Major Mitch- 
ell. Tuesday, i8th. We advanced a breast work to the left 
of the square redoubt, for riflemen, to annoy the enemy on 
their approach. * * The enemy continued their ap- 
proaches to the right, within 250 yards of the front of the 
square redoubt. Wednesday, 19th. The enemy began an 
approach from the left battery, towards our advanced re- 
doubt ; and moved some mortars into the former. Thurs- 
day, 20th. The approaches continued on the left ; their 
mortars removed from their left battery." Sir Henry Clin- 
ton's map says: " O. The second parallel finished the 19th 
April." The French map says the same. 

This second parallel, which was made by approaches from 
both the right and left of the British lines, was across the 
neck, somewhere very near the present Judith Street, and 



24 

about Morris Street. The British erected on King Street, 
or slightly West of it, somewhere near Reid Street, a bat- 
tery for cannon. 

Gen. Lincoln, when the summons of loth April had been 
sent in, had been so urgently pressed by the Governor and 
Council and inhabitants, to refuse a surrender, that he had 
done so promptly. But the effect of the bombardment had 
shewn the almost futility of the defence. On Friday, 2ist 
April, Gen. Lincoln sent a flag "to enter into the consider- 
ation of terms of capitulation." The terms proposed by 
Gen. Lincoln contemplated the marching out of the garri- 
son, with leave to go where they pleased, with " the usual 
honors of war, and carry off at that time their arms, field 
artillery, ammunition and baggage, and of such stores as 
they may be able to transport." The terms proposed by 
Gen. Lincoln were rejected. Gen. Lincoln thereupon called 
a council of war to consider the propriety of evacuating the 
town. The Council were of opinion "that it was unadvisa- 
ble because of the opposition made by the civil authorities 
and the inhabitants, and because, even if they could succeed 
in defeating a large body of the enemy posted in their way, 
they had not a sufficiency of boats to cross the Santee be- 
fore they might be overtaken by the whole British army." 
The Council therefore recommended a capitulation. The 
recommendation was not adopted. 

In the meantime, the American cavalry under Gen. Hu- 
ger, had been surprised at Biggin Church, near the head of 
Cooper River, and utterly routed. This enabled the Brit- 
ish to head such river, and occupying the left bank of Cooper 
River, to cut off any reinforcements to the garrison from that 
side. It is true the American's still held a post at Lempri- 
er's or Hobcaw Point, but the British army under Corn- 
w^allis commanded the road to such point. 

The rejection of Gen. Lincoln's terms renewed the siege 

■operations. "Saturday, 22d. Approaches continued on 

our left in front of the advance redoubt. Sunday, 23d. 

Approaches continued on our right and left ; those on the 

right to within twenty yards of the wet ditch. Monday, 



20 

24th. A party composed of 300 men " * under the 
command of Lieut. -Col. Henderson, made a sortie upon the 
enemy's approaches, opposite the advanced redoubts, at 
daylight ; they were completely surprised. * ^' * The 
greatest part of the First South Carolina Regiment came 
into garrison this morning, with Col. C. Pinckney. from Fort 
Moultrie. Tuesday, 25th. Between 12 and i this morn- 
ing, a heavy fire of cannon and musketry commenced from 
our advanced redoubt and the right of the lines, occasioned 
as it was said by the enemy's advancing in column. It is 
certain they gave several huzzas, but whether they were out 
of their trenches it is not clear. * * * 2 o'clock, P. M. 
Lord Cornwallis at Mount Pleasant. Wednesday, 26th. 
The enemy were very quiet all day and last night ; we sup- 
pose they are bringing cannon into their third parallel. * * 
Brig.-Gen. DuPortail arrived from Philadelphia. * * On 
Gen. DuPortail declaring that the works were not tenable, 
a Council was again called upon for an evacuation, and to 
withdraw privately with the Continental troops; when the 
citizens were informed upon what the Council were delibe- 
rating, some of them came into Council, and expressed 
themselves very warmly, and declared to Gen. Lincoln that 
if he attempted to withdraw the troops and leave the citi- 
zens, that they would cut up his boats and open the gates 
to the enemy : this put an end to all thoughts of an evacu- 
ation of the troops, and nothing was left for us but to make 
the best terms we could. Thursday, 27th. About i o'clock 
in the afternoon, four of the enemies gallies, an armed sloop 
and a frigate, moved down the river, and anchored opposite 
the mouth of Hog Island Creek. * " Our post at Lem- 
, prier's ferry retreated across the river in the night, to Charles 
Town, after spiking up four eighteen pounders they were 
obliged to leave." At this time, Tarleton says " Charles 
Town was completely invested." " Friday, 28th. The ene- 
my busy in throwing up their third parallel, within a few 
yards of the canal. Saturday, 29th. We are throwing up a 
redoubt on the right of the horn-work ; the enemy seem to 
intend erecting two batteries in their third parallel — one at 
4 



26 

the gate opposite the horn-work, the other in front of Col. 
Parker's regiment. * * A deserter from them says they 
are preparing a bridge to throw over the canal. May ist. 
Our fatigue employed in erecting another redoubt on the 
left of the horn-work. * * The enemy appear to be 
about another battery in their third parallel, opposite No. 
12 on our right. Tuesday, 2d. Last night the enemy were 
making a ditch on the right to drain the canal. * * The 
enemy threw shells at us charged with rice and sugar. 
Thursday, 4th. Our rations of meat reduced to six ounces; 
coffee and sugar allowed to the soldiers. Saturday, 6th. 
Fort Moultrie is in the hands of the enemy." 

According to Sir Henr^^ Clinton's and the French maps, 
the British third parallel was "completed 6th May, and 
canal drained by a sap carried to the dam." This third 
parallel, on the left or Ashley River side of the American 
works, began at the marsh of Cannon's pond, somewhere 
about Radcliffe Street, and a little West of Smith, and run- 
ning Southeastwardly terminated very near the wet ditch 
at or near the corner of Warren Street (a little South) and 
between St. Philip and Coming Streets. The parallel on 
the right was more angular, the apex of the angle beginning 
about Reid and Hanover Streets, the left leg running South- 
westwardly terminated just in front of the British battery at 
King, and between Mary and Ann Streets, and the left leg 
running Eastwardly to about opposite American battery 
No. 12, turned sharply to the South by East, and reached 
the wet ditch about where Judith Street crossed the marsh 
at the bridge known for years afterwards as Cooter Bridge. 
The battery mentioned by Gen. Moultrie on 29th April as 
"at the gate opposite the horn-work," is mentioned by Dr. 
Joseph Johnson in his traditions as "within point-blank 
shot, about 300 yards off, on the lot in Mary Street formerly 
used as the lower railroad depository and long known as 
the Fresh Water Pond." And in speaking of the wet ditch 
he says : " Which, on the East side of King Street, was a 
little North of Mr. Joseph Manigault's house (now John S. 
Riggs', corner of Meeting and John Streets), and was con- 



27 

fined by an embankment North of the house built by the 
late Col. Vanderhorst and now owned by Mr. C. Heyward 
(the residence of the late Arnoldus Vanderhorst, corner of 
Judith and Chapel Streets). This embankment was guarded 
by a battery constructed on that lot, and at night fire balls 
were thrown to the opposite end of the bank where Mr. J. 
L. Nowell now lives to show if any attempt was made to 
cut and let off the water." Mr. J. L. Nowell resided at the 
corner of Reid and Bay Streets, and this tolerably well es- 
tablishes that Gen. Moultrie's batteries, Nos. 13 and 14, 
were those a little to the West of, or near what is now the 
Northeastern Railroad passenger depot lot. 

" Sunday, 7th (May). Our principal magazine near being 
destroyed by a 13-inch shell bursting within ten yards of it." 
This magazine was a brick building in a lot on the South 
side of the present Cumberland Street ; it is about one hun- 
dred and fifty feet West of Church Street, and is still in fair 
preservation ; it is in the rear of the lot, and nearly touch- 
ing on the Western graveyard of St. Philip's Church. Gen. 
Moultrie says that " in consequence of that shell falling so 
near, I had the powder (10,000 pounds) removed to the 
Northeast corner under the Exchange, and had the doors 
and windows bricked up. Notwithstanding the British had 
possession of Charleston so long, they never discovered the 
powder, although their Provost was the next apartment to 
it, and after the evacuation when we came into town we 
found the powder as we left it." " Monday, 8th. A second 
summons from Sir Henry Clinton informing us of the fail of 
Fort Moultrie, and that the remains of our cavalry were cut 
to pieces the day before yesterday. (This was the surprise 
and defeat of Col. Anthony Walton White at Lenud's 
Ferry.) Our meat quite out ; rice, sugar and coffee served 
out." The 8th and part of the 9th were spent in negotia- 
tions, and resulted in the siege being continued. Sir Henry 
Clinton said in rejecting the American's proposals : "Hos- 
tilities will in consequence commence afresh at 8 o'clock." 
Gen. Moultrie tells the closing scene as follows: " After re- 
ceiving the above letter we remained near an hour silent, 



28 

all calm and ready, each waiting for the other to begin. At 
length we fired the first gun, and immediately followed a 
tremendous cannonade, about i8o or 200 pieces of heavy 
cannon fired ofTat the same moment, and the mortars from 
both sides threw out an immense number of shells ; it was a 
glorious sight to see them like meteors crossing each other 
and bursting in the air; it appeared as if the stars were 
tumbling down. The fire was incessant almost the whole 
night; cannon balls whizzing and shells hissing continually 
amongst us ; ammunition chests and temporary magazines 
blowing up ; great guns bursting and wounded men groan- 
ing along the lines. It was a dreadful night. It was our 
last great effort, but it availed us nothing. After this our 
military ardor was much abated; we began to cool, and we 
cooled gradually, and on the iith of May we capitulated, 
and on the morning of the 12th we marched out and gave 
up the town." "About 11 o'clock A. M. on the 12th May 
we marched out between 1500 and 1600 Continental troops 
(leaving 500 to 600 sick and wounded in the hospital) with- 
out the horn-work, on the left, and piled our arms : the 
oi^cers marched the men back to the barracks, where a 
British guard was placed over them ; the British then asked 
where our second division was? They were told these were 
all the Continentals we had, except the sick and wounded ; 
they were astonished, and said we had made a gallant de- 
fence." " We marched out with the Turk's march." Sted- 
man says: "And Major-Gen. Leslie took possession of the 
town." Of the casualties, he says : "The loss of the Brit- 
ish troops during the siege amounted to jd killed and 189 
wounded : that of the garrison was not, in the whole, quite 
so much ; but in the number of the dead was greater." 

Dr. Johnson says: "The families which remained in 
Charleston, amidst these exciting and alarming scenes 'of 
danger, removed generally into their cellars and places of 
this kind for safety, and were generally safe ; but about 20 
of them were killed." The venerable Mrs. Lingard, grand- 
mother of Gov. William Aiken, who resided during the siege 
in Lingard Street, used, long after, to tell how she and her 



29 

family were obliged to take refuge in the cellar of her resi- 
dence on that street. 

Gen. Lincoln, in his letter of 4th March, speaks of a bat- 
tery on James Island — one to the Westward of Fort John- 
son. Gen. Moultrie's diary, of 15th April, calls it "a bat- 
tery of two guns at Stiles' place." This battery was on the 
present Hinson place, a little East of the clump of trees 
known as the Hundred Pines; it was sometimes called the 
Water-melon battery. And it was a shot from this battery 
which took off the right arm of the Pitt statue, now standing 
in Washington Square, but which at that time stood, on a 
high pedestal at the intersection of Broad and Meeting 
Streets. 

This paper has extended to such length that it would 
render it tedious to mention instances of gallantry during 
the siege ; it must, therefore, be concluded with the follow- 
ing extract from Gen. DuPortail's letter to Gen. Washing- 
ton, dated 17th May, 1780, and telling of the surrender: 
" Fortunately, in all this the honor of the American arms is 
secure, and the enemy have not yet great subject to tri- 
umph. To remain forty-two days in open trenches before 
a town of immense extent, fortified by sandy intrenchments, 
raised in two months, without covered way, without out- 
works, open in several places on the water, and exposed 
everywhere to an open attack, and defended by a garrison 
which was not by half sufficient, to remain, I say, forty-two 
days before such a place, and display all the apparel of a 
regular siege, is nothing very glorious. The British general 
has, perhaps, followed the rules of prudence in this conduct, 
but, at least, the troops under his command will never have 
subject of boasting of their audaciousness and enterprising 
spirit. The American troops, on the contrary, have given 
certain proof of their firmness in supporting a tremendous 
fire, and remaining all the while exposed to the danger of 
surprise and open attack, of which the success was almost 
certain if the enemy had taken the proper measures." 

WILMOT G. DeSAUSSURE. 



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